HMP Altcourse
Liverpool, Privately Managed Prisons
HMP Altcourse is a Category B men's prison in Liverpool. If someone you care about is here, this page brings together what matters most — visiting, keeping in touch and finding support — in plain, practical English.
Start here
Most people come here for one of three reasons. Pick the one that fits.
Visiting
Visiting takes a little planning. You'll usually need to book ahead, be on the person's visitor list and bring the right ID. The visiting times, how to book and what to expect are below — along with help if it's your first visit or money is tight.
Social visiting times
| Day | Available sessions |
|---|---|
| Monday |
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Tuesday |
9:00am–10:00am
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Wednesday |
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Thursday |
9:00am–10:00am
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Friday |
9:00am–10:00am
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Saturday |
9:00am–10:00am
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
| Sunday |
9:00am–10:00am
10:30am–11:30am
2:30pm–3:30pm
4:00pm–5:00pm
|
Always confirm visiting times when you book — they can change at short notice.
Official visit times
Before you go — checklist
- Be on the person's approved visitor list
- Book in advance and bring valid photo ID
- At least one visitor must be 18 or over
If you’re on a low income you may be able to claim back the cost of visiting a partner or close relative in prison.
Travel
Cheapest public transport fare, or 20p per mile by car (30p in Scotland). Car hire up to £40 a day.
Meals
£3.50 to £5.10 towards food for journeys lasting more than 5 hours.
Overnight stay
£28–£34 per adult and £14–£17 per child where an overnight stay is approved in advance.
Who can get it
You must be the prisoner’s spouse, civil partner or partner, a close relative (child, parent, grandparent or sibling, including step and adoptive), their named next of kin, or their sole visitor.
You also need to get one of:
- Universal Credit — if your household gets no more than £1,250 a month (excluding housing costs)
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- A valid NHS HC2 certificate (or partial help with an HC3 certificate)
How to claim
- Apply online, or by post, phone or email.
- You can claim for visits made in the last 28 days or planned for the next 28 days.
- You’ll need the prisoner number, your National Insurance number, your receipts/tickets and a visiting order stamped by the prison.
You can usually get help with one visit every 2 weeks.
Helpline open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
More support for families
- Prisoners’ Families Helpline — 0808 808 2003 — free, confidential advice
- Pact: first-time families guide — Help with prison visit costs
- NICCO: Assisted Prison Visits Scheme — Directory entry
Rates and rules can change — always check the latest details on GOV.UK before you travel.
More about visiting
Social visits run every day. On Mondays and Wednesdays the first visit starts at 10:30am, so arrive no later than 10am. On other days, arrive about 30 minutes before your session for searching — if you arrive late your visit may be refused.
Book a social visit in advance through the GOV.UK "Visit someone in prison" service. You must be on the person's visitor list and have their prisoner number and date of birth to hand.
Everyone aged 16 or over must bring valid photo ID and show it at the Visits Entrance. Please follow the visitor dress code — for example, clothing with holes large enough to put your hand through is not allowed.
HMP Altcourse offers both official video visits and face-to-face official visits. To book, email [email protected] or call 0151 522 2000. The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm. All visitors must show identification at the Visits Entrance.
By train
- The nearest station is Fazakerley, about 20 minutes from Liverpool Central on the Northern Line (Kirkby train).
- Leave the station, turn left onto Longmoor Lane to the traffic lights, turn right onto Lower Lane (signposted Fazakerley Hospital), continue past the hospital, then turn right into Brookfield Drive. The prison is about a quarter of a mile on the right.
By bus
- Buses run from Paradise Street bus interchange or Queen Square towards Fazakerley Hospital or Longmoor Lane. Allow at least 45 minutes.
By car
- From M57 Junction 4, join the A580 (East Lancs Road), pass the Showcase Cinema on your left, then turn right at the next traffic lights. Continue past the police station and turn left at the following lights — the prison is a quarter of a mile ahead.
- From Liverpool city centre, follow the A59 then the A580 Walton Hall Avenue, take the next left at the lights onto the B5187 Stopgate Lane, then turn right after the Jacobs factory onto Brookfield Drive. The prison is three-quarters of a mile on the left.
Keep in touch
There are several ways to stay close between visits — phone, secure video calls, email and letters.
Secure video calls
Many prisons offer secure video calls so you can see each other between visits.
How video calls work on GOV.UKMany prisons use the Email a Prisoner service — you pay a small fee per message and can sometimes pay for a reply.
Phone calls
The person inside can only call numbers on their approved list, and most calls are monitored. With Prison Voicemail you can leave a message for them to call you back.
Letters
You can write as often as you like — put the prisoner’s number on the envelope. Most post is checked by staff.
Money & gifts
You can send money online for free with a debit card. Cash, cheques and postal orders by post are no longer accepted.
How to send money
- 1 Use the free GOV.UK "Send money to a prisoner" service with a debit card (Visa, Mastercard or Maestro) — credit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted.
- 2 You’ll need the prisoner’s number and their date of birth.
- 3 Money usually arrives in less than 3 working days, but it can take up to 5.
If you can’t use the online service
No debit card? You can set up a basic bank account to get one.
Can’t use a computer or the internet? You can apply for an exemption to send money by post — this is only granted in exceptional circumstances.
Rules can change — check GOV.UK for the latest details before you send money.
Who do I contact?
There are different numbers and inboxes depending on what you need — we've grouped them by what you're trying to do.
Call the prison Phone
0151 522 2000The main switchboard for questions about visiting or the person inside.
Safety or wellbeing concern Phone
0151 522 2021For serious but non-life-threatening concerns about a prisoner's safety. You can also complete a Safer Custody contact form.
Prisoners' Families Helpline Phone
0808 808 2003Free, confidential advice and a listening ear for anyone with a loved one in prison.
Mon to Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat and Sun 10am to 3pmSamaritans Phone
116 123Someone to talk to any time, day or night, if things are getting too much for you.
Open 24 hours, every dayStop unwanted contact Form
Visit the websiteIf a prisoner is contacting you and you want it to stop, use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.
Media enquiries Email
[email protected]Common questions
Most visits are booked free online through the GOV.UK 'Visit someone in prison' service. The person inside must add you to their visitor list first, which can take up to 2 weeks. You will need their prisoner number and date of birth, and the date of birth of everyone visiting. Some prisons take bookings by phone instead.
Everyone aged 16 or over needs valid photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. You will go through a security check, so leave phones, smart watches and bags in a locker (bring a £1 coin). You can usually take in a small amount of cash for refreshments, essential medication and basic baby items.
If you are on a low income you may be able to claim back travel costs through the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme, which can also help with meals and an overnight stay for longer journeys. You usually need to be a partner or close relative and getting certain benefits.
Send money online for free using the GOV.UK 'Send money to a prisoner' service and a debit card. You will need the prisoner's number and date of birth, and it usually arrives within 3 working days.
You can keep in touch by phone, secure video call, email and letters. Video calls are set up through the Prison Video or Purple Visits app, and many prisons use the Email a Prisoner service for messages.